Jeweler&#39;s melting apparatus.



W. H. FORD.

JEWELER'S MELTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30. 1913.

1,175,627. Patented Mar. 14,1916.

v f 13:31: ""QQ Q) THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (10.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

construction and novel combinations UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

WILLIAM H. FORD, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T FRANK HANCHETT, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

JEWELERS MELTING APPARATUS.

Application filed August 30, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \NILLIAM H. FORD, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Lowell, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Jewelers Melting Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to an apparatus intended particularly for use in jewelers work.

In my copending application Serial No. 772,091, filed June 6, 1913, I have illustrated a novel form of jewelers crucible and the apparatusherein described and claimed may be advantageously employed in connection with my said crucible, the crucible not being herein specifically claimed, but being claimed in said copending application.

In the manufacture of jewelry it is necessary to regulate the amount and extent of heat applied to the particular metal, mass or amalgam or alloy employed in each particular batch with great care and nicety, and it is an important object of my present invention to provide simple and eflicient means for such regulation.

It is also an important feature of the present invention to provide means to hold a crucible, such as that illustrated in my copending application above mentioned, so as to permit automatic adjustment of the crucible with relation to the heat applied thereto; and furthermore, to so arrange such automatic means that the crucible will be substantially level at all times, and will eliminate any danger of losing any of its contents during the melting operation, as well as during the various adjustments which will be hereinafter described.

Other features of the invention, details of of parts, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure l is a side view of the apparatus in use, inclosed within a hood; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view with a portion of the hood broken away; Fig. 3 is a view of the holder for the crucible. broken awav; and Fig. 4

is a plan view of the suspending means for the holder and the burners.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Serial No. 787,525.

I have illustrated a jewelers crucible, comprising parts 1 and 2, as shown in said copending application, and as a part of the apparatus to hold said crucible I provide a holder comprising spring arms 4 and 5 unlted at one end 6 and adapted to grasp the members 1 and 2 of the crucible at the outer ends of the arms 4 and 5. I also provide a locking clip 7 to hold the arms 4 and 5 in engagement with the crucible, when in use. To the upper arm 4: I attach a tubular member, or its equivalent, 8, in proper positlon so that the entire crucible and holder may be swung by means of the member 8, and the crucible be automatically maintained in a substantially level position, while so suspended.

9 indicates any suitable support, secured by a bracket 10 to a wall of a room, post, bench, or the like, and mounted on the support 9 is a standard 11, carrying a head or block 12. This block is bored at either end, as indicated in Fig. 2, at 13 and 14. A short shaft 15 fits into the bored portion 13 and is provided with a groove 16 which receives the projecting end of a set screw 17 to hold the shaft 15 in rotatable engagement with the head 12. The shaft 15 is bored to receive a rod 17 having its outer portion 18 extending substantially horizontally, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4;. The portion 18 is preferably of a suitable diameter so that the tubular member 8 may fit thereover, thus constituting cooperating suspending means for the holder and its crucible. It is, of course, feasible, to have the portion 18 tubular and the member 8 adapted to fit therein if desired, the important feature being that a suspension is provided for the holder and crucible so that the same are automatically maintained substantiallv level during use and during various adjustments. To the outer end of the shaft 15 is attached a rod 19, which may extend down to a handle 20 and is in position to engage a rack 21 supported in any suitable manner, said rack having a series of corrugations or teeth so that the rod 19 may spring therein as the handle 20 is moved upwardly and clownwardly, traversing the length of therack. Such movement of the handle 20 rocks the short shaft 15 and consequently raises or lowers the portion 18 supporting the,

holder and crucible.

30 r holder having been applied tothe crucible,

22 is secured, similarly to the manner in which the shaft is held, this shaft 22 being provided with a handle 23, so that it may be oscillated in the block or head 12. In the shaft 22 are bored holes to receive gas pipes 23 and 2 1, and set screws 25 (see Fig. i) are arranged to hold the gas pipes 23 and at in desired adjusted position as to height. These pipes carry'members 26 and 27, each having a burner 28 and 29 respectively, and a coupling for air pipes 30 and 31. The construction just described permits the burners 28 and 29 to be adjusted Vertically, as well as oscillated, so that the height and direction of the burners will be adjustable, in connection with the raising and lowering of the crucible, to secure the best results for each separate batch being melted.

Y The burners are of usual type and the proreach. T

vision of the air and gas pipes enable the operator to secure the desired amount of heat, suitable valves (not shown) for both air and gas pipes being within convenient have illustrated two burners, which are shown as converging, although the provision for adjustment by the setscrews 25 permits the burners to be otherwise positioned, and of course enables one burner to be employed without the other.

In the operation of my apparatus the the operator simply slides the member 8 over the supporting arm 18, adjusts the holder inwardly or outwardly, so that the burner or burners will be directed into the lower crucible 2, the operator swinging the handle. 20 and consequently raising and lowering the crucible and holder for this purpose, and similarly swinging the handle 23 to vary the angle of direction of the burners or burner until exactly the right positionfor best results is obtained. The extent of heat desired is also readily adjusted by regulating the supply of gas through the pipes 23, 24, as well as with the amount of air, usually compressed air, from any suitable source of supply, through the pipes 30 and 81. The relativelylong bearing af- .forded by the vmember 8 and the holder 18 act to steady the crucible and the method of suspension maintain the crucible substantially level during the raising and lowering, as well as during the movement of the holder inwardly or outwardly. I

I prefer to inclose the entire apparatus, excepting the handles 20 and 23, in a hood 32. This hood is formed with a top or chimney 33 and may be supported in any desired manner, as herein shown, being held to the support 9 by floor pieces 34 and 35 bolted to' said support 9 and of suitable joint suspension, to maintain the crucible substantially level at all times, while permitting a vertical adjustment thereof. This provision of a holder with'suspension means is of great importance, eliminating the former difliculties of having the operator hold the crucible by ordinary tongs, or

endeavoring to rest the same on a ledge or the like, during themelting operation. I have entirely overcome the uncertainties and lack of uniformity in the prior practice of holding'a crucible relatively with its burner by hand, but by my present invention have provided automatic means to secure constant uniformity in the successive ineltings of similar batches,"while permitting quick and efficient adjustments of both holder and burner, within a wide range of relative movements. 7

Having described my invention,rwhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters-Patent is: i r v 1. A jewelers melting apparatus, comprising a support fora removable crucible, a rock-shaft carrying said support, means to oscillate said rock-shaft and hold the crucible and support in adjustedposition, in combination with means to hold a burner and adjust the same with relation'to' the different positions to which said crucible maybe movedr a 2. A jewelers 'melting apparatus, com

prising an oscillatingfarm to carry a removable crucible adapted-to maintain said.

crucible substantially level during vertical movement, said supporting means 1 permitting transverse adjustment of the crucible on the support, in combination with adjustably held burners verticallymovable'relatively with said crucible support, and sepaburners in adjusted position.

"rate means to lock crucible, support and In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses;

- WILLIAMH. FORD. Witnesses? c J V FRANK HANCHETT,

JA Es 'R. HopDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

1 Washington, D. 0. 

